It’s not every day you find a marching band, soul food and jump rope freestylers all in one place. At USC’s Founders Park, the Black History Month Family Reunion hosted by the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs offered that lively mix and so even more.
Under the theme “Black Brilliance: Honoring Labor, Legacy, and the Joy of Excellence,” students, faculty, and community members gathered to celebrate history, culture, and unity.
Set to the backdrop of throwback R&B, the reunion featured music that is often at cookouts, highlighting the role music plays in Black culture. The sounds of the Spirit of Troy marching band played alongside freestyle jump rope chants, creating an atmosphere filled with new memories for the community.
Food vendors, including local spots like Simply Wholesome, Annie’s Soul Delicious and Earle’s on Crenshaw, offered a variety of dishes, from kosher beef dogs to soulful mac and cheese. Simply Wholesome, known as a multicultural spot in Los Angeles, perfectly fit with the event’s theme of bringing people from all backgrounds together over shared meals.
Sports trivia with the Women of Troy engaged the community, highlighting the accomplishments of Black athletes and coaches in USC athletics. The trivia was not only fun but educational, bringing to light the legacy of Black excellence that often goes unrecognized.
USC Arts in Action led creative projects, allowing students to express themselves while contributing to a mural for the Black Student Assembly. The Artists for Social Change initiative offered people an opportunity to explore the connection between art and activism. Many took a moment to contribute to the mural or browse the novel “The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are” by author, rapper, singer and actor Tariq Trotter, also known as Black Thought.
Dean Franita Tolson, the first Black dean in the history of the USC Gould School of Law, spoke to the crowd, emphasizing that, “there is no American history without Black history.” Her words reinforced the event’s theme, emphasizing that Black excellence is something for all communities to honor.
Dr. Julie Rousseau, USC’s associate athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion, expressed similar sentiments.
“It’s a chance for people to come and celebrate one another, one another’s heritage, one another’s ethnicity, and culture,” she said. “It allows us to really acknowledge the gifts, the contributions from each of our cultures and ethnicity, and see how rich we really are.”
For graduate student Derrick Pough Jr., studying popular music teaching and learning, the event was necessary, especially now.
“Now more than ever, it is so important to celebrate Black history and to not let what’s going on in the world take away from diversity, equity and inclusion — all those things that make this country actually great.”
Sophomore Mark Deferse, studying mechanical engineering, came across the event by chance.
“I was walking by and I saw… a bunch of stuff going on, so I decided to just come on in,” he said. “As a person of color myself, I grew up with a lot of stuff that’s here... it’s really important to get to know all parts of our past.”
To those who attended, USC’s Black History Month Family Reunion was more than just an everyday campus event — it was instead a way to share the joy of Black excellence and the power of community.
“How awesome it is to share with one another so that we get a chance to know each other better, respect each other and love each other even more, and not be exclusive — but inclusive,” Rousseau said.